The Spell of the Doll People is a fascinating concept that delves into the world of magic and enchantment. This spell highlights the power of dolls and their ability to come to life under special circumstances. The main idea behind the Spell of the Doll People is the belief that certain rituals or incantations can bring dolls to life, enabling them to interact and communicate with humans. This concept has been popularized in various forms of literature, including children's books and fantasy novels. One common aspect of the Spell of the Doll People is the role of an ancient spell or charm that activates the doll's magic. This spell is often passed down through generations or discovered by characters in the story, leading them on a quest to uncover its secrets.
Not every toys come alive in this imaginative world: only dolls, and only dolls who have chosen to take the Doll Oath. In fact, every doll has the opportunity to take the oath, if some other doll is there to explain it to them, and they can then either choose to remain alive and aware or they can choose to enter Permanent Doll State (PDS, something which is this book’s version of death, I suppose). Any doll who takes the Doll Oath promises to keep her life secret from humans. If they’re ever caught moving or talking, they enter Doll State for a full 24 hours and cannot move or talk, even though they remain somewhat aware. Any doll that commits some egregious act of talking to a human or intentionally moving in front of them enters PDS, and risks ending the lives of all dolls everywhere.
This story follows 8-year-old Annabelle and her china-doll family who have lived in their doll house inside the Palmer s home for more than 100 years. Nothing much has changed in the dollhouse during that time, except for the fact that 45 years ago, Annabelle s Auntie Sarah disappeared from the dollhouse without a trace.
This spell is often passed down through generations or discovered by characters in the story, leading them on a quest to uncover its secrets. Once the spell is performed correctly, the dolls are brought to life and can interact with their human counterparts. The Spell of the Doll People often explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and the magic of imagination.
The Doll People by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin – Review by Tammy Langeberg
I have been waxing nostalgic lately. Noticing how my nieces and nephew have grown up beyond their small insulated family world when we shared hours together. I long for the days when their world revolved around spending time playing with dolls, telling stories in the dark, playing games, and talking. Now our world has become laced with technology, busy-ness, and not enough real time spent with each other.
When visiting my niece in her new college apartment, I began reminiscing about the times we spent together when she was younger. Molly is an avid reader and I hope I was influential in this quality. We spent a lot of time at my local library and book stores finding books and sharing stories. One of my best memories about Molly is finding the gem, The Doll People by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin. Yes, that Ann M. Martin who wrote the Babysitters Club series and the Newbery Honor award winning book A Corner of the Universe. I just adore this book. It is a book that, I think, hasn’t received the recognition it deserves.
The Doll People starts with a mystery and a discovery. Annabelle Doll, a china doll who has lived in the same dollhouse with her family for over one hundred years belonging to many generations of girls. She is contemplating the long time disappearance of her Auntie Sarah after discovering her missing journal. Forty-five years gone and Annabelle is itching to find out what happened to her. However, there are rules – doll rules. After taking the Doll Code of Honor, you cannot be caught moving or talking when people are nearby. If you are, you become frozen for 24 hours in Doll State and there is the ever present threat of Permanent Doll State. Annabelle’s parents are overly protective and do not like when she goes off on adventures outside of the dollhouse. But Annabelle is determined to find out what happened to Sarah. After a new modern family of plastic dolls moves in, Annabelle finds a friend and partner to search for Auntie Sarah.
Tiffany Funcraft and her family are very different than the Doll family. They are made of plastic and come from a factory. They are modern while the Doll family is old-fashioned. But together they become fast friends and budding detectives. Using Auntie Sarah’s journal, they set out to find her while the household sleeps. There are many adventures that follow with some twists and turns. But in the end Auntie Sarah is found and Annabelle has made a lifelong friend. The story ends with Kate, the current Doll family owner, sharing a moment with her grandmother who also owned the dolls when she was young, wondering together if dolls do come to life. Something I hope we all have pondered.
Now back to my point about reminiscing and how our lives are so much about technology and busy-ness. I love that this story is simple. It seems so many of our books are about complex dystopian worlds with life or death problems and nail biting adventures. Don’t get me wrong I love me some Hunger Games or Uglies, but it is refreshing to read a book that one of the worst problems the characters face is being grabbed by the cat! It reminds me of my childhood and reading The Borrowers or The Littles. I so enjoyed the simplicity of the story and how the characters navigated through life.
I love that this book is about the secret lives of dolls. I love that they hope and discover and take risks. I love the mystery of Auntie Sarah and the adventures Annabelle and her friends and family have searching for her. I love the relationships that develop throughout the book. I love that I was able to share this book with Molly when she was about the age of Annabelle. It resonated with both of us and we together enjoyed the adventure. I love the delightfully enhancing illustrations done by Brian Selznick before his fame with The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I love that my nickname came from the story. Molly started calling me Auntie Tammy after reading the story. Her sister, Abigail, couldn’t say Auntie, so I ended up with the name “T”. It has stuck and often reminds me of this gem of a book. I love that you have an opportunity to find a young partner to read The Doll People with and share what you think about the secret lives of dolls.
A great story, with wonderfully animated charecters, a good mystery and fun suspense that'll keep tickling your funny bone, especially when the Captain (a real live cat) decides to investigate the dolls, or a real spider almost the same size as one of the doll charecters, crawling a wee bit too close for comfort, truly awakening the imagination with the authors knack for giving just the right amount of detail to keep your mind wanting for more.
Through their interactions with the dolls, human characters learn important life lessons, gain new perspectives, and form deep connections. The spell acts as a catalyst for personal growth and understanding. In some stories, the Spell of the Doll People also serves as a cautionary tale. It emphasizes the potential dangers of meddling with magic and the consequences that may arise. Characters may find themselves in dangerous situations or facing unexpected challenges as a result of their actions. Overall, the Spell of the Doll People captures the imagination and curiosity of both children and adults. It invites readers into a world where toys come alive and magic is real. Through captivating storylines and memorable characters, the concept of the Spell of the Doll People provides a unique and enchanting narrative experience..
Reviews for "The Spell of the Doll People: A Legacy of Enchantment"
- John - 1 star
I was really disappointed with "Spell of the doll people". The story seemed really promising at first, but it quickly became repetitive and predictable. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to care about their fates. The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-developed story.
- Sarah - 2 stars
I found "Spell of the doll people" to be a bit boring. The writing style was simple and didn't engage me. The plot lacked originality and felt like a rehash of other magical adventure stories. The pacing was also off, with slow moments dragging on and exciting scenes being rushed. Unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations and failed to hold my interest.
- Tom - 2 stars
"Spell of the doll people" was a letdown for me. The premise sounded intriguing, but the execution was lacking. The dialogue felt forced, making it hard to connect with the characters. The world-building was weak, leaving many aspects unexplained and confusing. The pacing was inconsistent, with slow sections that dragged on and action sequences that didn't pack a punch. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this book to others.